Township Committee members Shaun Van Doren and Dana Desiderio who voted against adopting the repealing ordinance are on the sub-committee.

At the Oct. 22 Township Committee meeting, Van Doren reported that the board is working on a checklist to be completed by the seller. The seller would have to sign off that there are no such things as illegal businesses or apartments, etc.

Desiderio added, "If owner and buyer have the form signed and notarized, then it is their responsibility."

If the seller misrepresents something, it would be a dispute between seller and buyer, the township would not be involved.

The matter will come back before the Township Committee for discussion. It will not be ready for adoption this year, Van Doren said.

Committeeman Peter Melick wants to have some real estate attorneys look at the proposed form.

Under the current regulations, a certificate of inspection is required when a residence changes ownership or tenants.

The inspection was not meant to be intensive; it was meant to uncover obvious non-compliance with zoning or health regulations.

Before the inspections were required, zoning violations would not be discovered until the current homeowner applied for permits to build new structures or additions, according to a letter from the Land Use Board.

In the past there has been mistakes made by the zoning officer but the Land Use Board said that is no reason to eliminate the inspections. Instead the process should be improved to eliminate mistakes. The board also said certain requirements such as landscaping buffers and maintenance of water detention basins need to be enforced.

The Township Committee previously nixed an ordinance that would have updated requirements for getting homes inspected when they changed hands. Then the Committee considered eliminating inspection to reduce liability to the township.